Kent State University
Manhattan
Softball Heads to Manhattan for Final Non-Conference Games
3/15/2024 1:01:00 PM | Softball
Kent State will head to Manhattan for the last weekend of non-conference play. A doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday with a single game slated for 11 a.m. on Sunday.
About the Golden Flashes
Kent State (11-8) has won four in a row after beating Youngstown State, 2-1, in the home opener on Wednesday.
The Golden Flashes' offense has shown much improvement early in the season and ranks second in the Mid-American Conference in batting average (.311) and third in scoring (5.42 runs per game).
Junior Savannah Wing is having a breakout season and ranks fourth in the MAC in batting average (.412), sixth in on-base percentage (.475) and seventh in slugging percentage (.647). Sophomore Bri Despines has a team-high 23 hits and 16 runs scored to go with a .383 batting average. Senior Emily Lippe has a career-best .345 batting average and leads Kent State with four home runs and 17 RBIs.
Freshman Megan Nuechterlein (8-3) is the MAC leader with eight wins in victories and threw her first career complete game this past weekend. Nuechterlein has a 3.66 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 44.0 innings. Sophomore Macy Irelan (3-4) is tied for the conference lead with two saves and has made appearances in 17 of 19 games this season. Irelan has tossed 63.2 innings and leads the team with a 2.53 ERA.
Scouting the Opposition
Manhattan (3-15) will be playing at home for the first time this season and is coming off a doubleheader split with St. John's on Wednesday. The Jaspers are hitting just .199 as a team, and Lindsey Hoag, Maddy Weir and Gabriella Mazzotta are the only players with double-digit hits. Hoag and Anissa Villalobos share the team lead with 8 RBIs each. Ava Metzger (1-5) leads the team in the circle with 15 strikeouts and 31.2 innings pitched.
Series History
Kent State won the only previous meeting between the teams, 5-2, on Feb. 26, 2017 at a neutral field in Madeira Beach, Florida.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will open Mid-American Conference play with a three-game series at Ball State on March 22-23.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
